Swayman named Hockey East’s top defensive player for 5th time

For 15 weeks, the Hockey East Conference has awarded three players with individual honors to reward prolific play.

Five times Anchorage’s Jeremy Swayman has been named one of the three stars; that’s more than any other player in the league.

The Maine freshman goaltender pushed his unbeaten streak to five games after backstopping the Black Bears to a weekend sweep of Massachusetts in which he posted back-to-back 28-save performances in consecutive 3-2 wins.

In the first game of the road series he was huge over the final two periods, including 13 saves in the third.

In the rematch he turned aside 10-of-11 in the first and third periods.

This was the second straight Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week honor for Swayman after earning co-player honors last week.

Last week he shared the defensive award with goaltender Danny Tirone of New Hampshire. Previously Swayman has been named Rookie of the Reek twice and player of the week once.

In November, he was the Rookie of the Month runner-up and was the Goaltender of the Month runner-up in December.

Swayman’s 11 wins on the season ties him for first in the league and second in the nation among freshmen goalies. His .927 save percentage is fifth overall in the nation and first in Hockey East.